Austin vs Bangkok vs Barcelona vs Chiang Mai vs Madrid vs Rio de Janeiro

Austin ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Bangkok ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Barcelona ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Chiang Mai ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ญ
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Madrid ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ
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Rio de Janeiro ๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ท
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Population 926,426 5,680,000 5,585,556 1,166,978 6,578,0179 6,718,903
Official language(s) English (de facto) Thai Catalan, Spanish Thai Spanish Portuguese
Level of English Very high Low High Low Moderate Low
Main airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX) Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) Galeรฃo International Airport
Most common months to visit March - May, September - November January - March, November, December April - June, September - November November - April March - May, September - November January - March, December
Currency USD - US Dollar ($) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) THB - Thai Baht (เธฟ) EUR - Euro (โ‚ฌ) BRL - Brazilian Real (R$)
Credit cards Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost everywhere Accepted almost evewhere Accepted sometimes. Cash preferred in many places. Accepted everywhere Accepted everywhere
Remote worker visa No No Yes No Yes No
Average monthly costs $3484 $1560 $2384 $974 $2498 $1833
Rent $1650 $616 $932 $274 $1174 $1066
Groceries $243 $191 $121 $169 $175 $95
Dining out $396 $168 $403 $108 $313 $210
Cafe $66 $45 $45 $45 $51 $25
Coworking space $331 $127 $213 $95 $196 $130
Mobile internet $40 $23 $10 $11 $10 $7
Public transportation $110 $32 $127 $60 $78 $33
Taxis $73 $19 $48 $20 $44 $14
Shared bicycles and scooters $96 $17 $24 $10 $49 $16
Sport and cultural events $54 $46 $81 $8 $54 $55
Museums and sights $11 $21 $33 $8 $20 $26
Nightlife $124 $50 $112 $62 $82 $54
Gym $62 $96 $81 $41 $44 $31
Yoga $139 $98 $93 $55 $142 $40
Massage $89 $11 $59 $10 $64 $32
SIM card options AT&T, T-Mobile. AIS Vodafone, Movistar AIS, DTAC Orange, Movistar, Vodafone Tim, Claro, Vivo
Tipping 15-20% at restaurants, 1USD or more per drink at cafes and bars 10% for restaurants, bars and services 5-10% in restaurants if service is exceptional, not expected elsewhere 10% at restaurants, not customary or expected elsewhere Not customary or expected but small tips are appreciated. 10% usually included in restaurants, 10% at bars and cafes with table service is common
Taxi apps Uber, Lyft Grab Cabify, FreeNow Grab Uber, Cabify, MyTaxi Free Now Easy Taxi, 99 Taxi, Uber
Tap water Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable Drinkable Not drinkable
Overall cuisine Emphasis on barbecued meats (beef and pork) as well as corn-based dishes and tex-mex, and rich American-style desserts. Meat and fish dishes, vegetables, noodles and soup Catalan cuisine makes extensive use of Mediterranean vegetables, legumes mixed with pork in its many varieties, chicken and fish. Regularly mixes sweet and savory flavors in specific dishes. This cuisine is known for being bold in flavor and striking in color, with a variety of specific regional dishes found the culinary hub that is Barcelona. Combines salty, sweet, spicy and sour flavors to create bold and colorful dishes. Meals typically include a mixture of meat and seafood dishes, as well as noodles or soups recipes. Strong emphasis on local spices and vegetables. Fresh, regional produce accentuated with garlic and olive oil and mixed with various meats and seafoods. Influenced both by Mediterranean and Middle-Eastern flavors. Emphasis on rice, beans, pork and beef with a variety of root vegetables and fresh fruits. Fresh seafood is also very common.
Local food specialities Frito pie, queso, apple pie, kolaches, BBQ ribs, tacos Pad thai, tom yam, kway teow reua, som tum, sooan Paella, bombas, esqueixada, pa amb tomรกquet, escalivada, crema Catalana, gazpacho, chorizo Khao soi, khan toke, sai oua, miang kham, nam prik, khanom jeen nam ngiaw, larb khua Paella, tapas, tortilla, gazpacho, pulpo a la gallega, callos a la madrileรฑa, churros Feijoada, bolinho de bacalhau, fried sardines, caldo verde, pao de queijo and brigadeiros.
Eat like a local Local tex-mex restaurants, lunch BBQ joints, taquerias, food trucks, local breweries Food stalls, local markets, shophouse restaurants Taverns, tapas bars, local markets, bodegas and street food spots Street food stalls, local markets, bakeries and smaller, traditional restaurants that serve fresh food Have some tapas and sangria at a tasca and paella at an authentic eatery. Keep an eye on the time and visit a cafeteria for a mid-afternoon merienda and some churros! The "snack capital" of Brazil, Rio is a perfect place to try street food as well as the wide varieties of small, traditional eateries and churrascarias easily found across the city.
Vegetarian / vegan options 30 options on HappyCow 416 listings on Happy Cow 98 options on HappyCow 90 options on HappyCow 85 listings on Happy Cow 54 options on Happy Cow